Giovinco, Pirlo in as Conte names Italy squad
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Toronto striker Sebastian Giovinco was rewarded for his positive start to life in the Major League Soccer with a call-up to Italy's squad for upcoming UEFA EURO 2016 qualifiers at home to Malta and Bulgaria.
Giovinco signed for the MLS outfit after last season and has become an instant hit in North America's top flight. Andrea Pirlo, one of New York City's latest signings, has also been included in the team.
Italy coach Antonio Conte, meanwhile, kept Mario Balotelli out of his squad. Liverpool striker Balotelli, who has not played for the Azzurri since their disappointing 2014 FIFA World Cup Brazil™ campaign, has returned to AC Milan on loan for the season in a bid to resurrect his career and win a place in the Italy squad ahead of next summer's competition in France.
Italy, who sit second in their qualifying table, one point behind leaders Croatia, host Malta in Florence on 3 September and then Bulgaria three days later in Palermo. Croatia lead Group H on 14 points from four wins and two draws so far but they have been deducted a point following a 1-1 draw with Italy in June after a swastika was scrawled on the pitch before the fixture in Zagreb.
Italy squad:
Goalkeepers: Gianluigi Buffon (Juventus), Daniele Padelli (Torino), Salvatore Sirigu (Paris Saint-Germain)
Defenders: Francesco Acerbi (Sassuolo), Andrea Barzagli (Juventus), Leonardo Bonucci (Juventus), Giorgio Chiellini (Juventus), Domenico Criscito (Zenit), Matteo Darmian (Torino), Mattia De Sciglio (AC Milan), Manuel Pasqual (Fiorentina), Andrea Ranocchia (Inter)
Midfielders: Andrea Bertolacci (AC Milan), Daniele De Rossi (Roma), Alessandro Florenzi (Roma), Marco Parolo (Lazio), Andrea Pirlo (New York City), Roberto Soriano (Sampdoria), Marco Verratti (Paris Saint-Germain)
Forwards: Antonio Candreva (Lazio), Stephan El Shaarawy (Monaco), Eder (Sampdoria), Manolo Gabbiadini (Napoli), Sebastian Giovinco (Toronto), Ciro Immobile (Sevilla/ESP), Graziano Pelle (Southampton), Franco Vazquez (Palermo), Simone Zaza (Juventus)